Les Amis du château de Fontainebleau

Friends of the château de Fontainebleau

The Friends of the Château

Since 2008 the Friends of the Château of Fontainebleau has contributed to the development and enrichment of the château collections and has raised awareness of its history through the organization of cultural events and activities.

Projects achieved by ACF

2013

Restoration of two maps of Fontainebleau Forest for Napoleon III’s Study

The first map dating to the eighteenth century represents a general plan of the Fontainebleau Forest. Printed on chiffon paper in 1752, it was created for Louis XV’s hunts by Pierre Helun, land surveyor to the king. The other map dating to the twentieth century is a representation of Fontainebleau Forest enhanced by watercolor, and was compiled by topography engineers during the war.

2011

Print of the “Arc de Triomphe”

The Friends of the Château de Fontainebleau acquired a print of the “Arc de Triomphe” at an auction on October 2, 2011, which was presented to the president of the château, Jean-François Hebert, during the general assembly on Saturday, November 5, 2011. The print shows the Arc de Triomphe erected at the principal gate of the Tuileries Garden, facing the Champs Élysées, during the Paris arrival of their Majesties Napoleon, Emperor of the French and King of Italy, and Marie-Louis, Archduchess of Austria, on April 2, 1810.

Miniature portrait of the Roi de Rome

The portrait is a gift of monsieur Michel d’Halluin, member of the Friends of the Château of Fontainebleau. Representing the Roi de Rome with the légion d’honneur medal, it was presented to the château in order to join the museum’s collection. The medal is in good company in Room 9 of the Napoleon I Museum within the case dedicated to the Duke of Reichstadt. The Friends of the Château of Fontainebleau joined together within a “cahier” (notebook) a few historical documents concerning the French childhood of this little known prince, the Roi de Rome.

Pedagogical Space at the Château

Every year the ACF finances the development of pedagogical space at the Château of Fontainebleau. In 2011, this mission was financed thanks to a grant from the Conseil Général de Seine-et-Marne.

2010

Restoration of the Armchair in Napoleon I’s Library

The purchase of a mahogany sphere by the Friends of the Château de Fontainebleau contributed to this restoration project, which was entrusted to and executed by the École Boulle. Under the leadership of two experts in carpentry and restoration, the école’s students dedicated their scholastic year to the restoration of this very complex piece, at the same time fulfilling the program requirements for their degrees in art craftsmanship.

Since 2006

The members of the Friends of the Château of Fontainebleau contribute to the château’s development through their generous sponsorship of pedagogical services and cultural events (Festival de l’histoire de l’art, Journées Européennes du patrimoine…), and are a vital part of the continuing success of cultural programs at the château.

Become a patron ! please download the leaflet below if you wish to support the chateau